'I've learned to appreciate the important things in life': Top scientific investigator reflects on her career after award nomination

Dame Professor Sue Black has helped bring justice to evil men and women in her role as a leading forensic anthropologist, and now her achievements have been recognised with a Sunday Mail Great Scot Award nomination.

Whether it is helping put a name to bones discovered in a Highland forest or identifying a child's body in a Kosovan mass grave, Dame Professor Sue Black has brought comfort and closure to many families.

As one of the world’s leading forensic anthropologists, the 57-year-old has also played a huge role in bringing some of the most evil men and women in history to justice.

If it wasn’t for Sue’s skills, Scotland’s worst paedophiles might never have been caught and war criminals such as former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic might have escaped conviction for genocide.

Read More

For more than 30 years, the mum-of-three has been the go-to expert for police forces around the globe, helping them to investigate some of the most gruesome crimes imaginable.

Sue, whose achievements earned her a damehood in 2016, has been nominated by our readers for a Sunday Mail Great Scot Award.

The Inverness-born scientist, who last week started a new job as Pro vice-chancellor at Lancaster University, is delighted.

She said: “My job has taught me that life is too short. We all need good news and being nominated for a Great Scot Award is definitely that.

Coffins of Albanians massacred by Serbian forces during ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1999

“It’s a huge but pleasant surprise to know readers have voted for me. “It’s real people’s opinions which truly matter when it comes to awards. Some say I’ve had an incredible life and career but I don’t think of it like that.

“I never had any plan and I’m the worst possible advert a careers teacher could ever hope for. I was just presented with opportunities which I grabbed with both hands and ran with it."

Sue began working crime scenes in 1983. She investigated the Marchioness boat tragedy – when 51 people drowned on a pleasure-boat cruise in 1989 on the River Thames.

She also helped set up a mortuary after the 2004 tsunami which killed an estimated 230,000 people and collected DNA evidence from the mass graves of Kosovo War victims in 1999 for the United Nations war crimes tribunal.

Read More

Sue, who used to head up Dundee University’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, said: “Kosovo was definitely the turning point in both my career and my life. To see such horror is life-affirming and makes you focus on the important things. It made me hug my children tighter.

“One of my missions was to identify the commingled bodies of 40 murdered Kosovar Albanians in the house where they had been lyingforthreemonths. Tome,being able to tell a family I had identified the remains of a loved one was just as rewarding as helping to bring the war criminals to justice.

“Despite the hellish horrors they had been through, the Bosnian people remained incredibly dignified and I felt humbled to be able to give them the closure they had been longing for.”

Sue, the expert top crime novelists Ian Rankin and Val McDermid go to for advice, added: “Kosovo touched me on so many different levels. It gave my science a place on the international stage and ensured future war crimes were properly investigated.

Nominations and categories

Do you know a Scot who goes the extra mile every day but never asks for any recognition or reward? Please tell us about the person who makes your home or community special.

Five nominees will receive an Unsung Hero Award and one will be named our overall Great Scot of 2018.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD

Sponsored by Specsavers

This award celebrates an individual or group who work tirelessly to improve the lives of people in their local community.

ENTERTAINMENT AWARD

When it comes to entertaining, Scotland is world class. From music and comedy to writing and performing, we lead the way.

Let us know who you think deserves to follow in the footsteps of Biffy Clyro, Brian Cox, Kevin Bridges and Gerry Cinnamon.

SPORT AWARD

Do you know someone who, through their hard efforts and determination, has achieved extraordinary sporting achievements? Or perhaps someone who spends their free time training others in a sport they love?

Tell us who you think deserves recognition for their dedication to sport.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sponsored by Steven Brown Art

This award goes to someone who has made a contribution of outstanding significance in their field over a number of years. Past winners include Alex Ferguson, Jackie Stewart, The Krankies and James Cosmo.

To nominate, go to www.greatscotawards.co.uk. Nominations will close on Wednesday, August 29, 2018. #GreatScotAwards

Tickets

To purchase tickets to the event on October 27 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Glasgow Central, contact Aileen Turnbull on 0141 309 4909 or email aileen.turnbull@trinity mirror.com